Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-20
save indirectly in the general benefit TO
the community, yet in the public inte-
rest We recommend its removal.

MIDDLETON MILLS.
Next in order comes the Middleton
Mills dam, extending only partly acros
the James above Columbia, This sup
plies water rights at Columbia, Middle
ton Mills, and Elk Hill, and also fur
nishes water for the navigation OF th'
RiyaDna canal for some distance above
the mouth Of the last-named stream a
certain seasons. In view of the i'm
portant purposes thus served by thi'
dam, and OF the fact that it constitutes
but partial obstruction in the channa
of the river, We recommend that it bC
not removed.
TYE RIVER.
Fifth in succession above Richmon
is Tye-river dam, just below the mouth
of the last-named stream, across the
James. An expensive cmbankmeni
has been erected by the railroad on the
left bank Of the river at this point. to
break the current in time OF flood,
which would else he thrown out by the
dam upon the adjacent low-grounde
and occasion great disaster. The dam
is still source Of danger in high water.
At present the old canal-b is kept
supplied from this dam with a small
current Of running water, although nc
water right is dependent on it.
This has been done to prevent stag
nant pools forming in the old canal
bed. and was adopted by the lailrOad
company as a precautionary measure
till such time as the water could be
thoroughly drnincd from the canal-bed.
There is no obligation on the railroad
company to maintain this current OF
water, and the authorities informed us
that they intended at no distant day to
cut it off and drain the canal-bed, as
required by law. The removal of the
dam will facilitate rather than Obstruct
this drainage, and no sanitary
trouble has been suggested or
appears at all likely to result there
from, save that referred to of cut
ting of water from the canal. AS
this is to he done at all events, the OBJ
lection is irrelevant and the railroad
cannot, by moving the dam, be relieved
OF the dnty of draining the canal,
which will probably he equally efec-
tive, as a sanitary measure, as keeping
the flow Of water through it. The
owner Of private ferry across the
pond above the dam objected to its re-
moval on the ground that the falling Of
the surface Of the river at his landings
on either side would make access to
and cgrsss from his boats more diff.
cult. We examined the ferry-landing
and think the objection trivial. And
the manager Of the railroad offered to
make what excavation might be neces-
sary for a safe and easy landing, with
out charge. One landowner objected
that bis land might possibly wash in
food fines should the dam be re-
moved but such an objection, as has
been shown in our general remarks, is
irrelevant. Others similarly situated
entertain no such fears.
Very serious damage is undoubtedly
done hy reason OF this dam to the low
lands for n considerable distance up
Tye river from its mouth. The lower
pant of that stream is kept constantly
filed with sand, so that the surface Of
the water, even at its normal stage, is
but little below that OF the adjacent
low grounds, and comparatively slight
rains rrecipitate freshet and annually
destroy many crops. 1t is believed that
10y lie removal Of the dam the sand
VIII be drawn ont of Tyc river, the sur
face Of the water in it lowered. and the
danger Of damage from slight freshets
greatly reduced. We recommend the
removal OF the dam.
JOSHUA PALS.
The sixth dam above Richmond and
first below Lynchburg is Joshua Falls.
i he water in recent freshets has broken
around the right wing of the dam, in
hcting considerable injury upon the
lands and reducing the level
Of the poDd-water to nearly that OF the
natural bed Of the stream. Hence it
affords q fair criterion by which to
iudCe of the effect which the removal OF
the dams below Lynchburg Will have
on sanitary conditions. These, the resi-
dents of the ncIghborhood inform us,
have been decidedly better since the
-ubsidonco Of the water in the pond
than was the case before. Further
damage is at any time liable to occur
from freshets should tie dam remain
there, and as there are no water rights
and no ferry, and the neigh
boring landowners all anticipate benc-
TT from the removal Of the dam, We re-
commend It's removal.
JUDITH TO REMAIN.
Passing hy the wgtor-works dam at
Lvnchburc, as not included in the
cope OF our inquiries, the next above
IS the judith dam. This is the source
If water. power to two large establish
a nail-fdctoryand rolling
Mill, and the works Of the Lynchburg
Electiic-Light Company. rs no i'm
poItant sanitary reasons seem to call
'or the removal of thi, dam, We recon-
mend that it be allowed to remain.
BALD EAGLE.
Tald-Faele dam, we think, may he
removed without detrmont to the com
uEnity or to any individual, and yet
Se do not think that any special con
,ideration OF advantage TO the cOmmu-
4ity calls for its immediate removal
Here are, it is said, some stagnant
POOLS in the old canal-bed Just below
he dam. which are injurious, and while
hCse will be at once filled up, yet pos
IDLY the dam may tend to throw water
nto the canal channel in time of freshet
nd wash out pools again. No water
tights or ferries are involved here. We
hink the railroad company should have
permission to remove the dam, with the
)cnefts Of the law, il i'll the future 1t
hould be eXpcdient.
PEDLAR's STAY THERE.
Pedlar's dam is in excellent condi- |
ion physically, and is apparently not |
source Of danger, either In sanitary
aspect or as likely TO aggravate trouble |
rom freshets. There Is ferry across |
he pond which belongs to the railroad
'ompsny, and there is water right |
supplied. by the dam which does not |
.xpire until 1894. The removal of the |
lam cannot be effected without salts |
wing this right If this is satisfied We
ee no reason why the railroad com
1any, should it deem it expedient to its |
interests TO do so, may not at some
uture time remove this dam, with the
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